# Castel Nuovo, Naples > Castel Nuovo, also called the Maschio Angioino, is Naples' main castle by the port, with five massive round towers and a gleaming marble arch between them. Built in the 13th century by the Angevin kings and remodelled by the Aragonese, it holds the Palatine Chapel, a civic museum of painting and ramparts looking over the bay and Vesuvius. The museum is ticketed; allow about an hour. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-nuovo - City: [Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples), Italy - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Courtyard free; museum paid - Opening hours: By day, Sunday mornings only - Highlights: Triumphal arch, Palatine Chapel, museum - Nearby: The port and ferries to Capri - Time needed: About an hour - Location: Piazza Municipio, by the port - Coordinates: 40.83838, 14.25381 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1279–1282** — the castle was built for Charles I of Anjou (source: English Wikipedia) - **15th c.** — Alfonso V of Aragon rebuilt the fortress (source: English Wikipedia) - **1453–1471** — the marble triumphal arch was made between the towers (source: English Wikipedia) - **5** — round towers (source: English Wikipedia) - **Hall of the Barons** — where the city council now meets (source: English Wikipedia) ## History of Castel Nuovo The 'New Castle' got its name in the 13th century, when **Charles I of Anjou** moved his kingdom's capital to Naples and built a new seafront residence, unlike the older Castel dell'Ovo and Castel Capuano. Work ran from **1279 to 1282**, and under the Angevin kings it became the heart of court life: Giotto and Petrarch worked here and Boccaccio visited. In the 15th century Naples passed to **Alfonso V of Aragon**, who rebuilt the castle almost entirely, adding five round towers of dark volcanic tuff and moats. Locals still call it the **Maschio Angioino**, the Angevin keep. ## The triumphal arch The castle's crowning feature is the white marble **triumphal arch** between two towers, made in **1453–1471** to celebrate Alfonso's ceremonial entry into Naples. It's one of the first Renaissance monuments in southern Italy: reliefs show the king's procession in his chariot, and the archangel Michael stands on top. The contrast between the dark medieval towers and the pale Renaissance arch is the castle's signature view. See it from Piazza Municipio, then step closer to pick out the musicians and courtiers in the procession. ## What to see at Castel Nuovo - **The triumphal arch** — Renaissance marble at the entrance. - **The courtyard** — a Gothic staircase and portals. - **Palatine Chapel** — fresco fragments and sculpture. - **Hall of the Barons** — a vast star-shaped vault. - **Civic Museum** — painting and sculpture from the 15th to 20th centuries. - **Ramparts and terraces** — views of the port and Vesuvius. > **The arch is free** You can see the triumphal arch and, when it's open, the courtyard without a ticket. You pay for the Civic Museum, the chapel and the upper terraces. Short on time? Stop at the arch on your way to the port: ferries to Capri and Ischia leave from Molo Beverello, right opposite the castle. ## Inside the castle A Gothic staircase in the courtyard leads to the **Hall of the Barons** with its stunning star vault; the city council meets here today, so it isn't always open. The **Palatine Chapel** is the only part surviving from the Angevin castle, with 14th-century fresco fragments and Renaissance sculpture. The **Civic Museum** fills several floors with Neapolitan painting from the 15th to 20th centuries, the castle's bronze doors and silver. In one room a glass floor reveals ancient remains found during restoration. The upper terraces look over the port, the bay and Vesuvius. ## Piazza Municipio and the port The castle stands at the edge of **Piazza Municipio**, a broad square running down from the town hall, Palazzo San Giacomo, to the sea. After a long rebuild it became a pedestrian boulevard looking over the port, and the metro works uncovered the remains of the ancient harbour, including wooden Roman boats now being studied by conservators. Opposite the castle is **Molo Beverello**, where fast ferries leave for Capri, Ischia, Procida and Sorrento. If you're heading to the islands, start the morning at Castel Nuovo and come back up to the ramparts for sunset over the bay. Via Toledo and Galleria Umberto I are five minutes' walk away. ## How to get to Castel Nuovo 1. Metro line 1 to **Municipio**, which exits by the castle. 2. From [Piazza del Plebiscito](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/royal-palace-naples), 5 minutes on foot. 3. From [Galleria Umberto I](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/galleria-umberto), 3 minutes. 4. From the Beverello ferry port, just across the road. ## Tips for your visit The castle sits right in the centre between the port, Piazza del Plebiscito and Via Toledo, so it fits easily into a first walk around Naples. On Sundays the museum usually opens only in the morning. There are lots of stairs inside, and the terraces are windy. Next door, **Municipio** metro station is one of Naples' 'art stations', with remains of the ancient harbour under glass. From the castle it's ten minutes to the waterfront and Castel dell'Ovo. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Study the triumphal arch reliefs - [ ] Buy a Civic Museum ticket - [ ] Find the star vault of the Hall of the Barons - [ ] Climb to the terraces for Vesuvius - [ ] Look into Municipio metro station ## Historic Naples: compare and choose Castles, palaces and squares in Naples rated by YesGo. - [Pompeii](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/pompeii) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 5 h · Paid - [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Galleria Umberto I](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/galleria-umberto) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Herculaneum](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/herculaneum) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid - [Castel Nuovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-nuovo) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid - [Cappella Sansevero](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/cappella-sansevero) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Paid, timed entry - [Royal Palace of Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/royal-palace-naples) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid - [Teatro di San Carlo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/teatro-san-carlo) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Tour paid - [National Archaeological Museum of Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/naples-archaeological-museum) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Paid ## Seafront central Naples Castel Nuovo, Galleria Umberto I and the Royal Palace on Piazza del Plebiscito, then Castel dell'Ovo on the waterfront. 1. [Castel Nuovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-nuovo) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid 2. [Galleria Umberto I](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/galleria-umberto) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 3. [Royal Palace of Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/royal-palace-naples) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid 4. [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free ## Don't mix it up Castel Nuovo ('New Castle') by the port and Castel dell'Ovo ('Egg Castle') on the waterfront are different fortresses 15 minutes apart; a third, Castel Sant'Elmo, crowns the hill above the city. ## Tips - The arch is free to see. - Municipio metro is by the castle. - Capri ferries leave opposite. - Sunday mornings only. ## Questions ### What is there to see at Castel Nuovo? The triumphal arch, the courtyard and Gothic staircase, the Hall of the Barons, the Palatine Chapel, the Civic Museum and terraces over the bay. ### How much is Castel Nuovo? The arch and courtyard are free; the museum is ticketed. Check prices on site. ### Why is it called the Maschio Angioino? It was built by the Angevin kings in the 13th century; the name means 'Angevin keep'. ### How do I get to Castel Nuovo? By metro to Municipio, or 5 minutes on foot from Piazza del Plebiscito. ### How long do you need at the castle? About an hour with the museum. ## How we checked History and interior from English Wikipedia. Prices and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Castel Nuovo - City of Naples official site, comune.napoli.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.